Expert review of anticancer therapy
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Expert Rev Anticancer Ther · Dec 2007
ReviewCardiotoxicity associated with the use of trastuzumab in breast cancer patients.
The monoclonal antibody against HER2, trastuzumab (Herceptin), has become an important player in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Both in the metastatic and adjuvant setting, the addition of trastuzumab to other systemic treatments has led to a striking increase in tumor response and survival. The downside with the use of this agent, however, is its inherent cardiotoxicity, which is particularly common when anthracyclines are used concurrently. This review will focus on all aspects of the cardiac side-effects of trastuzumab, ranging from epidemiology and pathophysiology to cardiac monitoring, and treatment and prevention.
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Expert Rev Anticancer Ther · Dec 2007
ReviewSpectrum of pediatric gliomas: implications for the development of future therapies.
The therapy of gliomas is still challenging. This is especially true for pediatric gliomas because response to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy agents and radiation therapy is currently often poor and because therapy-related morbidity is a significant problem in children. ⋯ These new insights into the molecular mechanism driving tumor growth uncover new potential molecular targets for future therapies. In addition, they start to uncover biologically defined tumor subtypes that may have to be considered independently in the search for optimal treatment regimens.
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Radiotherapy plays a central role in the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. Historically, surgical resection alone was the mainstay of treatment for pediatric CNS malignancies. ⋯ Unfortunately, the long-term CNS side effects of radiotherapy remain a major obstacle for survivors of childhood tumors. In this article we will discuss these issues in detail and summarize the ongoing efforts to reduce the risks of these toxicities.